Man allegedly kills girlfriend before committing suicide

By Shen Chi-chang / Staff reporter

A Taoyuan County man surnamed Hsieh (謝) allegedly killed his girlfriend in the early morning yesterday, and after placing the victim’s severed breasts on a kitchen counter, committed suicide by jumping from their 10th floor apartment in Pingjhen Township (平鎮).

The building’s security guard said he found Hsieh nearby and called 110, but Hsieh arrived at a local hospital with no vital signs.

After getting a locksmith to open the door to Hsieh’s apartment, police found a 30cm-long ornamental knife with bloodstains on the hilt in the bedroom as well as another knife on the kitchen counter with blood on the blade.

The police suspect the knife in the bedroom was the murder weapon used to stab Hsieh’s girlfriend, surnamed Chen (陳), while the knife in the kitchen was used to slice off her breasts.

Bloodstained handprints were found on the windowsill that Hsieh jumped from and forensic specialists confirmed that the handprints belonged to Hsieh.

“There were no signs of struggle at the scene and we are currently ruling out the involvement of a third-party killer,” the police said, adding they believe that Hsieh killed Chen as she slept.

Police say Hsieh and Chen had been living together for two to three years and Hsieh was unemployed, relying on Chen for financial support. The apartment is in Hsieh’s father’s name.

Neighbors reported hearing the couple fighting, police said.

Police said they found anti-depressants and prescription mood stabilizers, indicating that Hsieh had a medical history of manic depressive disorder and depression.

They said Chen had been complaining to friends about her relationship and had even moved out for a period. The friends quoted Chen as having said Hsieh’s moods were unstable and that she was worried that he might hurt her, the police said.